Best Mount Rainier day hikes Choice #1:Burroughs Mountain

Trail information

Let's start off with the grandest of the grand day hikes that Sunrise has to offer a hiker: Burroughs Mountain day hiking.

It's also one of the most difficult trails, for reasons that will be explained below.

Drive 17 miles up a winding paved road to the Sunrise Visitor Center.

There is free parking in the large paved parking lot.

Head into the small Visitor Center to check on trail conditions or closures, and pick up a map if you need one.

Sunrise has an interesting history, so spend a bit of time in the Center after your hike and learn about how human interventions shaped this national park.

There's also a concession stand in a separate building, with the usual fast food choices.

And bathrooms.

Be sure you take advantage of the amenities before heading out, because this is a popular trail with no bathrooms (or vegetation to duck behind) along the way.

Distance & elevation changes

The Burroughs trail is actually three destinations rolled into one, giving a day hiker plenty of options.

The trail begins at the parking lot, heading up a paved trail until it quickly joins the Sourdough Ridge Trail. That's where the fun begins!

Hike upward on a wide, dusty trail (~400 feet gain) to a five way trail junction at Frozen Lake.

Here's your chance to choose a different destination if the snow field ahead of you looks daunting.

Consult your map for options to divert to Fremont Lookout or Skyscraper Mountain. These are awesome destinations, too.

The Burroughs Mountain trail takes you up a steep section of trail, where you will encounter the snow field and a steep drop off on your right hand side.

Tip: Steps from previous hikers will be punched into the snow, but they will likely be icy and may be spaced too far apart for smaller hikers.

Take your time here, using your trekking poles for stability.

You arrive at First Burroughs (elevation 7,000 feet) after hiking less than three miles, for a round trip of 4.8 mi/7.7 km. Elevation gain: ~900 feet.

Mount Rainier from First Burroughs

You can push on to Second Burroughs (elevation 7,400 feet), costing you a bit more mileage (round trip 7 mi/9.6 km round trip).

Highly recommended, because:

You gain an expansive view of Mt. Rainier's glaciers.

You can gaze down upon Glacier Basin, the next recommended hike.

You score sweeping views to the north, and on a clear day, you can see a long, long way into the Cascades.

Your chances of encountering goats improve.

After spending a lot of time taking it all in, you have a decision to make.

You can turn back here, and be highly satisfied that your leg power and sweat brought you to a fantastic destination.

But if
you're a sturdy hiker, why not venture down the flank of Second
Burroughs, over a barren plain, and up to Third Burroughs for a mind
blowing, up close view of Mt. Rainier's glaciers?

There is an established trail that beckons you onward.

But it's going to take some effort to lose and gain more elevation, only to lose and gain it again on the way back.

If
you green light this idea, drop down to the Glacier Basin Trail, and
then head upward on an easy trail to gain an astonishing close view of
The Mountain.

Tip:
Going to Third Burroughs (7,800 feet) makes for a long day, no doubt
about it. Pack extra food and water, and note that there is no
opportunity for a pit stop because it's high alpine terrain (no trees to
crouch behind).

Once on Third Burroughs, rest and rehydrate while you listen to chunks of Mt. Rainier thunder down her sides.

Up close and personal with Mount Rainier from Third Burroughs. See me in the lower right corner? Puny human!

Why this hike is a spectacularly good idea

You won't be the only person heading up to Burroughs, as this is one of the most popular Mount Rainier day hikes.

So get an early start for several compelling reasons:

to score a parking spot,

to guarantee an entire day to enjoy the beauty of this hike,

and the earlier you start, the better your chances of seeing wildlife. Marmots munching lupine in dew encrusted meadows are a common sight here!

The Burroughs Trail hands you an opportunity to get right up close to Mt. Rainier, "in her face" as a mere day hiker.

The trail also gives you a chance to practice your snow hiking skills, if you go early in the season.

There are snow fields that might not melt out even by summer's end.

If you don't have good foot wear, and are the least bit hesitant about your footing, choose one of the other hikes on this page. NO KIDDING! Sliding off a steep drop off does not a good day hike make.

Hiking with kids? Be absolutely sure of their abilities, or choose a different destination.

Once you've safely navigated the snow field, you are in for a treat: barren alpine flatness with The Mountain looming close by, and possibly a close encounter with the resident goat herds.

Things to know before you goon these hikes

You will need to purchase a permit to enter (per car, not per person).

Sunrise
is open only part of the year (late June to late September), so there
are no snowshoe opportunities on any of these trails (it's a different
story at the Paradise entrance to Mt. Rainier).

You
will have plenty of company on these hikes, but the further away from
the trail head you hike, the fewer people you will encounter.

As
the people thin out, expect to see large mammals such as marmots, deer
and mountain goats. Plus lots of smaller ground critters (pika, ground
squirrels) and birds! You know the drill: Don't feed or harass them.

If
you hike at the peak flower season, prepare to be amazed at the dozens
of different types of wild flowers you will gaze upon. The Hiking For
Her Pinterest board on alpine flowers is a good preview.

These
are the best Mount Rainier day hikes from the perspective of a hiker
who has done them many times, in all kinds of weather, by herself or
with other people. Your results may vary.

Mt. Rainier trail guides worth owning

Although there are many hiking guide books written about the Mt. Rainier trails, there are only a few that really hit the mark.

If you're looking for more information about these 3 hikes, as well as ideas for other hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, this is the hiking trail guide to get.

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